SOUTHLAND ROUNDUP

Cal State Northridge 76, Northern Arizona 74--The Matadors pulled within two games of the Lumberjacks in the Big Sky Conference race before 1,358 at Northridge.

Northridge (14-8, 6-4) did not take a lead until 6:55 remained, and the basket that gave the Matadors a 64-63 advantage was a no-look fling over the shoulder by Jason Crowe that had no business coming close.

Brian Heinle scored 23 points for Northridge and made the key play in the waning seconds.

With Northridge trailing, 74-73, Heinle tipped in a missed shot with 5.7 seconds to play, then dashed downcourt and intercepted a long inbounds pass from at the Lumberjack free-throw line.

Heinle was fouled, made the first shot, missed the second and Northern Arizona’s Michael McNair grabbed the rebound but dribbled the ball off his knee as the buzzer sounded.

Northern Arizona (16-5, 8-2), two-time defending Big Sky champion, made only six of 14 free throws in the second half.